Compression platen for materials testing machines



April '11, 1944. R. TE'MIPLIN 2,346,281

COMPRESSION PLATENS FOR MATERIALS TESTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 23, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR RICHARD .TEMPLiN April 11, 1944. R. L. TEMPLlN 2,346,281

COMPRESSION PLATENS FOR MATERIALS TESTING,MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 23, 1942 VENTOR L. TEMDLIN ATTORNEY ,QPaten'ted Apr. 11, 1944 COMPRESSION PLATEN FORMATEItlALS TESTING MACHINES Richard L. Templin, New Kensington, Ia. Application January 23, 1942,- Serial No.- 422,005

(01. ass-'14) 6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to materials testing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for obtaining round end conditions in column testing.

In the testing of round end columns one of the most difiicult problems to solve is the obtaining of truly round ends, that is, ends with absolutely no restraint to tipping and no eccentricity of loading. In view of the fact that the contact between the test column and testing machine load-- ing platen constitutes a mechanical joint through which the column load is transmitted there is created some frictional resistance to the tipping of the ends of the specimen at failure.

Early attempts to obtain round end conditions for columns of large size were made using plain spherical seats or pins but this gave a condition quite close to fixed end columns. In other words, the amount of friction was almost sufiicient to prevent any rotation of the ends of the specimen. Another attempt was to employ a spherical seat lined with small hardened steel balls but this device not only involved mechanical complications but was extremely limited in its maximum capacity. To overcome these prior art limitations other arrangements for obtaining the condition of round ends included knife edge fixtures and plates supported on ball bearing trunnions but these devices allowed tipping about only one axis, although heads that permit tipping in any direction use the intersecting knife edges or intersecting trunnions. Here again the capacity of such heads is usually small and the apparatus is subject to considerable elastic distortion during use.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved apparatus that is highly effective in obtaining or approaching true round end conditions during column testing. A further object is to provide improved apparatus capable of ac h nance and relatively inexpensive consistent with the precision qualities and durability present in the apparatus.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from the followin actual practice. This comprises a pair of upper and lower compression headsincluding plates I and 2 respectively supported for spherical movement on a crosshead 3 and loading platlapped together.

form 4 of a usual testing machine. The machine is specifically shown herein as of the Emery type in which a hydraulic ram and cylinder 5 moves the loading platform l to compress a specimen such as concrete, metal or other material. Fluid pressure for the loading cylinder 5 may be supplied from any suitable source such as motor driven pump unit I while the load onthe specimen may' be determined either by measuring the fluid pressure'within the main cylinder 5 or by employing a suitable Emery type weighing capsule '8, although any other weighing system as well as any other type of testing machine may be "employed. Topermit the upper and lower ends of specimen 6 to have unrestricted spherical movement the compression plates l and 2 are floated on oil specifically supplied by the pump 1 which actuates the testing machine loading ram although in the case of screw type machines the pump '1 may be considered as an auxiliary pump for supplying the. oil pressure on which the plates float. Each plate is provided with semispherical parts 9 and I0 secured thereto by studs m. These semi-spherical parts are fitted into seats H and'lz formed in bases l3 and M, the semi-spherical parts and seats being ground and 18 located near the base of the spherical parts '9 and these recesses having leakage communication through ports is and 20 with suitable drainage pipes 21 and 22. To reduce leakage to a minimum while at the same time maintaining a continuous and uniform film of oil on which the spherical parts float, I provide the spherical seats with a series of annular labyrinth packing grooves H and I2 respectively.

Annular U-shaped washers l5 :and I6 are disposed in suitable recesses I! and To supply floating oil pressure to the spherical seats they are provided with chambers 24 and 25 located on the vertical axis, these chambers communicating through pipes 26, 21 and 28 with main cylinder and pump 1 so that as loading pressure is increasingly applied to specimen 6 fluid pressure will be supplied to the spherical seats with a correspondingly increasing pressure thereby floating the spherical balls on a film of oil. The oil supply line 26 may be rigid while the pipe 21 may be of flexible tubing adapted to rise and fall with the loading platen 4. The cup washers l5 and I 6 are of suflicient resiliency so that the sealingresistance; negligible. i Preferably a small amountot oilis-allowed to seep out from between the lapped spherical surfaces during use thereby providing a continuously spreading film of oil which insures anoil cushion for the entire spherical surfaces and serves as a lubricant. when: there is, .relative..movementcbetween the spherical part and seat duringaround ,end testing ofpolumns. Any seepage. maybe collected. and returned to ,-.the xoil=-..supplystankof pump unit I. The oil pressurendropspfrom a maximumwvalue in; the .reservoir schambers 24 and- 25 tolpracticallypzero :at; the rrimcfofthe spherical surfacesonearlcthel.:packings;l Stand l 6. The flow of oiltoeachof ,the;oil:chambers;24 and 25 may be regulated by suitable .needlevalves diagrarnmatically indicated ;at;:i30 and 3!;7Fig. 1, these valves also serving to dampen .or-eliminate the possibility, ofoscillations ofythespecimen and bpthp1ate s I. and Caused byithe pumping .action of, pumpfl or from self-induced: vibration. The I annular phambers, containing-the =packings; l 5. and areformed sothat the freeg ends. :of theipaclo Pi extend, t ward li eismallendsiofthelsp ...12a i= an 1!" T ilabyrinth -packing Q s.;-sau e .Q 5 0!,a1T0lmfl1 he-a18aiOf con- ;tact between the spherical surfaces, thus-insuring a uniform thickness of oil film. Hence the possibility of lateral displacement of theplaten an ei nzllaifqrm;is p a e oi a ou d @the contacting surface of the packing l'l; and-|8 is eliminated.

.Thespherical surfaces are; ground so that-their centers lie in the specimen; contacting. face of .men pivots about centerslying in-the endsurraces of the specimen thereby accomplishing the desiredpoints of theoretical round end action.

' To holdthe upper plate [in its v normaloperative position against grawty while; stillallowing the plate to have.complete-; freedom of action, a series of .bolts Behaving. lqwer spherical; heads'35 and spherical nuts .56 are supported respectively inthe plate I and an .annul ar;ring- 38. This ring as shown in Fig. 4 is suitablmsuppor-ted by .ball

. bearingson diametrically opposed pins- 3 9 threaded intoan inner annular ring :40 lwhioh,-in1 turn, is pivotally supported through ball bearings on diametrically opposed; pins; 41; threaded into base E 3 and angulanly displacedkQO degrees from the ,axi of .pins j 3,3.' Thisdisposition of-pins --39 and .9! permits universal movement of plate I, and spherical part I 0 -.w-l 1ile.the nuts;3 ;F;ig 3, permit .Sllitable a'X'ialadju stment-of the ball to insure plates land! andhence the compressionspeci- 6 have provided testing machine a series of combined lifting and tie bolts 63 may be provided, these being removed during normal operation.

From the foregoing disclosure it is seen that I improved compression heads adapted to minimize the possibility of frictional resistance to round end column testing and these heads have the further advantage of permitting all degrees of freedom of floating movement on an oil film whose pressure may increase in proportion to the increased load on a specimen \Vl'lE'IlElVGI the fluid chambers 24 and 25 are connected directly to the testing machine loading ,cylinder 5, although when connected to an auxns iliary pump the pressure may be controlled by needle .valves 38 and 3|. The improved structure and operation of my compression heads allows testing to very'high loads Without danger of increased friction and without limiting the freedom of spherical action on the heads, thereby providii ng; atvery effective;simpla-andcdirect:manner of o a accomplishing round -end:;testing-.-0f= compression specimens. Annular. rings-'46 and 41;.Figs.-2- and 3, preferably of soft metal, such.-=as-copper,:=are d pressedv onathe spherical balls (near their'fbase thereby ;providing stops to limit: the extent of tilting. I

.It .willof. course .be understood-that various changes in details of construction and arrange- .;,,ment of,.parts...1nay be .madeby.thoseskilled in the. art without .departingcfrom the spirit of the inventionas setforth int-he appended. claims. .I claim:

1. A compressionllead for round end testing of ,.a compression lspecimenin --a materials testing .rmachine comprising, iii-combination, a base mem- ..,.ber.having.a spherical seatsurface, a compression .plate member having apart withvaspherical surface for cooperation with said seat, liquid grooves 40,..disposed in the spherical sur-face ofone of usaid .members .andencircling the axisthereof, (and meanswconnected to said seatso as to supply a .film of liquid under continuouspressure between -,.s aid..part .and its seat to :provide a liquid floating -spherical support for the-end-of a compression specimen.

2.-A-compression head for round end testing of a compression specimen in 1 a materials testing -..machine comprising, in combinationa base hav- .--.ing. a spherical seat,-a compression plate having a .spherical part --for-- cooperation with said seat, .means for supplying a 'film.-of.liquid under con- .tinuous pressure-between said-partand its-seat to .-:provide a-liquid fioating spherical-support for the 9 end of a compression specimen, sealing packing .-.-hav,ing a tapered sealing edge;.and means whereby .-said*packing isadapted to be interposed between :said'partand seat atra point near'the base'of the part withthe taper extendingtowardthebottom 60. end of the-spherical seat and engageable with the .sufficient. clearance for the oil film in the spherispherical surface of the spherical part.

3. A compression head for round end testing of a compression specimen in :a materials testing zmachine comprising, in combination, a base having a spherical seat, a compressionplate having a nepherical part for cooperation with said seat, -'means for supplying a film of liquid betweensaid part and its seat to provide a floating spherical :supportfor the end of a compression'specimen,

sealing packing interposed between said part and seat'at a-pointnear the base of the part, and a drainage port communicating with "said packing, said packing being of annular Ueshape with its .edges directed toward the bottom end of the {spherical seat thereby forming a seal for preventing seepage of the liquid flowing out along the seat.

4. A compression head for round end testing of a compression specimen in a materials testing machine comprising, in combination, a base member having a spherical seat surface, a compression plate member having a part with a spherical surface for cooperation with said seat, liquid grooves disposed in the spherical surface of one of said members and encircling the axis thereof, means for supplying liquid under continuous pressure to the bottom of said seat to form a film of liquid between said part and its seat to provide a liquid floating spherical support for the end of a compression specimen, and drainage means for liquid leakage near the large end of said spherical seat thereby to maintain a substantially uniform flow and film of oil between the part and its seat under the influence of said source of continuous pressure.

5. A compression head for round end testing of a compression specimen in a materials testing machine comprising, in combination, a base having a spherical seat, a compression plate having a spherical part for cooperation with said seat,

means for supplying a film of liquid between said part and its seat to provide a floating spherical support for the end of a compression specimen, and universally jointed annular gimbal rings connecting said compression plate and base so as to prevent the plate and ball from falling out by gravity but still allowing the ball to have free movement in all degrees of direction.

6. A compression head for round testing of a compression specimen in a materials testing machine in which the specimen is loaded by a hydraulic pressure ram and cylinder comprising, in combination, a base having a spherical seat, a compression plate having a spherical part for cooperation with said seat, and means for supplyin fluid from the hydraulic loading cylinder of the materials testing machine to said seat to form a film of liquid under continuous pressure between the seat and part thereby providing a liquid floating spherical support for the end of a com pression specimen in which the supporting pressure of the liquid bears a relation to the loading force.

RICHARD L. TEMPLIN CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,5L 6,2 1.- April 11, 19th.

RICHARD L. TEMPLIN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, sec- 0nd column, line 9, claim 6, after the word "round" insert end--; line 22, same claim, after "liquid" insert -float; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 50th day of January, A. D. l9l|.5.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

